Ray Rayner this guy was Chicago in the morning for me when I was young

A big time Chicago icon passed away on 1/21/04, the one and only Ray Rayner. This guy for me was required early morning viewing. The umbrella hat, the Cubs/Sox hat, Ray was cool. Am I the only one who was frightened by Wizzo? I also like this because I could work the Gigglesnort Hotel reference in there. If your not from Chicago and born anytime before I'd say 1975 you may have no idea who this guy is.

Goodbye Ray Rayner
As a kid I knew you well
You had the grace to work the Bozo Show
Wizzo and Cookie could surely tell
I crawled out of bed
Saw a umbrella hat on your head
I knew that it would rain

And it seemed to me you lived your life
Playin cartoons and with puppets
Never knowing when to say
There's a lot of snow, home from school today
And it seemed like I knew you
When I was just a kid
Now your casket will close
Like the Gigglesnort Hotel once did

Tug McGraw....yes Tim's Dad

Tug McGraw famous relief pitcher and father of music star Tim McGraw got pulled from the game on 1/6/04. Jason was so moved by the Tugmeister he sent in his version of CITW, and got a nice Ivan Calderon reference in there and questions Tug's parental abilities, nice combo...

Good bye man named Tug
Though I never knew you at all
You played with Larry Bowa
And paid no attention to your son at all
And it seems to me you lived your life
Always Stuck in middle relief, always wondering
When your gonna pitch again
And I would have liked to known you
But I was always a Cubs Fan
Your death shocked me more than Ivan Calderon


And here it my version of CITW, I like this one a little for the Dan Quisenberry and Ed Kranepool references. Oddly enough bothe guys died of brain cancer if I'm not mistaken, maybe it was from those MLB hats they used back in the day. Hmmmm....

Goodbye Tug McGraw
Ed Kranepool knew you pretty well
You had the grace throw a ball
Hitters couldn't strike it well
You wore the red pinstripes
With a white "P" on your hat
Became a Philly icon
I don't think Tug was your real name

And it seemed to me you pitched your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing when to say
"You gotta believe!" or just yell
And I would have liked to have know you
But I was just a kid
If you couldn't save the game
We'd just send in the Quiz

It was a partially closed casket at the ceremony...

Earl Hindman better known as Wilson from Home Improvement passed away on 12/29/03. I think when he got to the gates of heaven his face was partially obstructed by them. By the way I did like Al better than Tim.

Goodbye Earl Hindman
I bet Tim Allen knew you well
You had the grace standing behind that fence
What your face looked like I couldn't tell
Doling out your advice
Some questioning your fame
They told you to say howdy neighbor
While the Toolman played the games

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a hat behind the fence
Never seeing your whole face
I don't think it was coincedence
And I did once watch you
And those three annoying kids
I always liked Al Borland better
But the public never did.

Otto Graham the original fantasy football stud

Football stud Otto Graham of Waukegan passed away on 12/18/03 if you get a chance look at this guys numbers he was a machine.

Good bye Otto Graham
Thought I knew you pretty well
You wore that old time helmet
You must have been tough as hell
You came out of Waukegan
With a football in your hand
Became an Northwestern stud
Then and NFL once again

And it seemed to me that you lived your life
Like a pocket passer did
Never knowing when to run
Or pass it once again
And I would have like to know you
But your retired before I did
You were a fantasy stud long before
Fantasy football was played by kids

Art Carney-The Honeymooners and some movie with a cat

A Hollywood legend Art Carney passed away on 11/9/03 and I always remeber "The Honeymooners" where they were trying to learn how to golf. I like the Fight Club reference in the song, but I guess I shouldn't be talking about Fight Club...

Goodbye Art Carney
Jackie Gleason knew you well
You working in the sewer
You must have smelled like hell
You did some other stuff
Andwhat is was I can't attest
Something with a cat I think
Harry and Tonto at your best

And it seemed to me you lived your life
Like a second banana at times
Never standing in the light
Ed Norton was your name
Not like the guy in Fight Club
Just a character by a name
Your career burned out long before
"Address the ball" ever did

Irv Kupcinet--Chicago Legend 11/10/03

The next celebrity was Chicago icon Irv Kupcinet. This guy had been on TV and newspapers in Chicago forever. He always knew who was dining at Morton's and from all accounts was not a good tipper. I tied in the big glasses line to another Chicago legend who had huge glasses, Harry Caray. Irv got the call on 11/10/03...

Goodbye Irv Kupcinet
From Channel 2 I knew you well
Gracefully big glasses you do tell
While those around you read
About all famous Chicago celebs
They whispered into your brain
What you say sometimes hard to tell
Seemed always yelling those TV reports

And it seemed to me that you glasses lived
With the frames way too big
Never knowing that you were going blind
When old age set in
And I would have like to know you
But I was just a kid
You wore giant glasses long before
Another Chicago legend did

I guess now its just the Righteous Brother

The next celebrity to enter the CITW archive was Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers. Yeah like you knew who Bobby Hatfield was when you heard he died. Interesting note on this one I'm such a geek I knew that Will Ferrell's dad was in the Righteous Brothers band. Anyway here is the CITW version for Bobby Hatfield...

Goodbye Righteous Bro
Tom Cruise didn't sing your song well
You had hired the dad of Will Ferrell
Where ladies were to swoon
Cheesy guy sang your tune
And you listen to those in a drunken state
Sing it at karaoke when it got late
But I don't know your name

And is seems to me you lived your life
One just those two songs
Touring the nation day to day
Little venues with a stage
Wait until the end sing both in the encore
Then its over head to the backstage door
Your candle burned out long before
Lovin' feelin' ever will

Rod Roddy Gets the Call to "Come On Up!" 10/27/03

Rod Roddy of "come on down fame!" of the Price is Right was the next celebrity to hear the call of God to "come on up!" on 10/27/03. Rod you always know the Price is Right in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jason was so moved by this that he wrote his own version to honor Rod Roddy. Jason's version of CITW for Rod Roddy...

Good Bye Roddy Rod
From a young man in the 22nd row
Whome you never picked for plinko
And never told me to come...on...down
And it seems to me
That you lived your life
Wearing very gaudy clothes
Never knowing what to pick
From the trash bin
And I would have liked to know you
But I was just a kid
Your jacket burned out long before
Your legend ever did

And here's my version to honor Rod Roddy...

Goodbye Rod Roddy
I bet Bob Barker knew you well
You had the grace wearing ugly jackets
Those around you would not wear at all
They yelled about your work
Some questioning your fame
They told you to yell "Come on down"
And then they played the game

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a clown on the stage
Never knowing actual retail price
While Bob controlled the game
And I did like to watch you
When I was just a kid
I wondered what neutering was
But you never did.

Rerun Goes into Syndication 10/21/03

Well Fred "Rerun" Berry is the first celebrity which had the honor of having a Candle in the Wind remix written about their life and career. Say hi to Momma for us...

Goodbye Fred Berry
Thought I knew you pretty well
You had the grace to dance a fool
Red suspenders we could tell
You crawled out of nowhere
With a red beret in your hand
Became a 70's icon
Then you officially changed your name

And it seemed to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing when to say
What's happenin' to Dwayne.
And I would have liked to have know you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your dancing ever did